Reflective animated displays



March 25, 1958 M. H. PHILLIPPI REFLECTIVE ANIMATED DISPLAYS Filed Oct. 6, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. I.

m MP v ML D A f P O 2 T. I, 5 m l M Gttorneg March 25, 1958 M. H. PHILLIPPI 2,82

REFLECTIVE ANIMATED DISPLAYS Filed 001;. 6. 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGS.

lnvcntor. MATTHE W H. PHILLIPPI Gttorncg REFLEGTIVE ANIMATED DISPLAYS Matthew H. Phillippi, St. Paul, Minn, assignor of twentyfi s perce t o harles V. Wel y a d yv P3?" sent ta Howard i che St- Pa i n- Applieation October 6, 1953, Serial No. 384,395 3 Claims. (Cl. 40-437) My invention relates to an improvement in reflective animated displays, particularly related to message or display bearing items, such as calendars, greetings, billboards, etc.

It is an object of my invention to provide a display of a nature which attracts attention to a message superimposed upon a static second message, the first message coming into recognizable form when the viewer is in a certain position relative to the first message and virtually fading from view when the viewer assumes another position, the second message being always in view at any angle. As an observer approaches the display from the side and views the static message the unconscious thoughtis that there is only the one message, but there is a further message as the observer moves past the display which flashes into view as hereinafter described.

It is also an object to provide the first fade-in and fadeout message by applying clear lacquer in the design desired over the static printed message and then applying minute high index reflex reflecting glass beads to the lacquer, which beads come into high brilliance from rea flected light when the viewer is in a certain position relative thereto, and fade out of brilliance when a further position is attained by the viewer. At certain positions of the viewer the first or animated message fades out completely and is not visible. Attention is drawn to the first message by the quick visibility of the message as the viewer approaches the article bearing the message. The message virtually pops into visibility, and as a result the same is very directive in gaining attention of anyone at all near the article bearing the message.

It is also a feature of the invention to mix small amounts of aluminum, bronze or copper metallics, analine dyes, pearlessence or colored pigments into the adhesive which are stenciled or laid over the static sign to effect a variety of reflection. A small amount of the above material added to. the transparent adhesive will give a suflicient transparency to the display to cause novel illusions or effects.

A mixture of transparent or translucent beads With sequins may be used to give various light reflecting means to the display.

A feature resides in providing a light reflecting display which will come into sharp view to the observer when passing by the display and viewing the same at certain angles. The light reflective means of the display is adapted to be extended over a static display, thus providing an animated display which is adapted to attract the attention of the observer. Where the entire display is hung on the wall or placed in a fixed position without any moving parts or electric lights such as are used, the attention of the observer is attracted.

With my process, I am able to provide an animated display in an economical manner. Furthermore, my process provides a means of directing more than one message to the observer in practically the same area and space which would be ordinarily used in making a static sign or display.

It is also an object of my process to illustrate the high lights of a picture such as a picture of an individual or any other display by using the reflecting elements such as the glass beads, light reflecting sequins or other elements which are adapted to reflect light When projected toward the same. When the high lights of an illustration are adapted to be covered by light reflecting elements as herein provided, such high lights become activated while the shadows are static and may be printed or shown on the display sign as shadows, These high lights appear activated when the observer is in a certain angular observing position with the display, then as the observer changes positions such as walking by or passing by one of my display signs, the activated portion of the display will fade out While the static portion will remain in View.

Normally, the static portion of my display may be observed from practically any angle whereas the activated portion of my display such as the high lights of the picture are only sharply visible by reflected light from certain angles or positions of the observer.

It is a primary feature of my method or" making a display to activate portions thereof by reflected light. Activated portions of the display may be over a portion of a static display or associated therewith, thus attracting the observer by a display which is made economically.

it will be apparent that my process may be applied to black and white or colored illustrations with equal attractiveness and thereby making a normal static display activated in part to attract the observer.

My display may be used for advertising purposes in connection with calendars and other advertising media or for any other applicable purpose that may be desired.

My process and the features thereof together with the means of carrying out the same will be clearly and fully defined in the specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification:

Figure 1 illustrates a reflective animated display where-, in the static portion of the display is the word Phillippi while the reflective animated display is the word beer.

Figure 2 is an enlarged section on the line 2-2 of Figure 5. This section shows the light reflecting beads 12 extending over a portion of the surface or face of the static display 11.

In Figure 3, I have diagrammatically illustrated a background 10 upon which a static display 11 is illustrated and which is adapted to be covered by the reflective beads 12.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail of the illustration shown in Figure 1 wherein reflecting sequins are used with the reflecting glass beads.

Figure 5 illustrates a display sign wherein the company making specialties is illustrated and is associated with the animated word think.

Figure 6 illustrates the high lights of a persons face which are activated which may appear over a static display of any nature.

In making my reflective animated display, I carry out a simple process by having a background on which a static illustration is printed, stenciled or otherwise applied to the background which may be in black or any suitable desired color. Then when the static display is sufliciently dry or set on the background, the second step of my process is carried out by applying a transparent adhesive directly over the first static display, and while the adhesive is tacky, a series of minute glass reflecting beads are applied to the same. The transparent adhesive is applied directly over a portion of the static display so that applying of the light reflecting beads or elements extend over a portion of the face of the static display.

In the drawings, the background 10 may be of any suitable material upon which the static display 11 is printed, stenciled or painted, after which the light reflecting ele ments such as minute glass beads 12 having a high degree of clarity are applied to a tacky transparent adhesive which whereas in the display illustrated in Figure 4, the static display is Brown & Bigelow, Specialties, Saint Paul 4,

Minnesota while the reflective animated display 13 is the Word think.

A reflective animated display made by my process may be of any decorative character, may be for the purpose of spelling out words, phrases or combination of words and phrases which are primarily designed to hinge one upon the other such as Phillippis Beerf Furthermore, my reflective animated display may be in the form of a picture (as shown in Figure 6) or an illustration, a portion of which is a static display Where high lights of the display are animated by being covered by light reflecting particles or beads. My process is designed to provide displays which have. an animated character or portion to attract the observer passing the display or viewing the same at different angles.

The light reflecting particles used in my displays may be clear glass beads mounted in a clear lacquer or adhesive which dries to hold the beads in place on the display. Mixed with the clear beads, other minute reflective particles 16 such as sequins may be employed which will have a tendency to sparkle in the light. may be of diflerent colors so as to increase the attractiveness of theanimated display when viewed by the observer.

In Figure 3, I have illustrated 14 as an observer of the display on the background 11. The dotted outline of the observer inFigure 3 together with the arrows indicate the movement of the observer passing the'display on the background lil. The diagonal lines 15 extending from the observer to the display are merely for the purpose of indicating the angle at which the light reflective animated portion of the display 13 pops into view of the observer 14 as he moves past the display. It will be apparent that the static display 11 is visible at all times to the observer, and the light reflective animated display 13 is visible as a ghost-like film not normally attracted to the eye outside of the lines 15. The light reflective animated display appears in a brilliant form in the manner of now you see it within the angles of the lines 15 and now you dont see it.

Thus, it will be apparent that I'provide a very attractive light reflective animated display which enhances the observer owing to the fact that the light reflective animated portion of the display pops in and out of view as lucent or of a eolored nature to best adapt the same to the a particular display. 7

It is of primary importance that my display may be These particles 4 i made economically and adds to a display which is ordinarily static an activated portion which attracts the observer more particularly because it seems to pop into visibility and then fade away leaving virtually only the static display in view of the observer. Furthermore, my method permits me to make attractive displays on a comparatively flat or smooth background or may be formed on an irregular background as is required by the particular display desired.

I claim:

1. A composite two message display comprising a 'flat background, a static non-reflective display message illustrated on said background, and a second display message associated with and superimposed on said static display message, including light reflecting substantially spherical heads, the second message of said display being reflectively brilliantly visible only at certain angles to the observer, to provide a display wherein portions thereof are static and continuously in view while the second thereof is activated by light reflected against the same and is only reflectively brilliantly visible from certain angles of observation.

2. A composite dual display including a light reflecting flat background, a continuously visible static non-refleca tive printed portion formed on said background, a second portion of said display independently related to said static portion and superimposed thereon consistingof a covering of minute light reflecting glass beads in a further display, an adhesive for supporting said beads, to provide a display wherein a second display portion thereof becomes activated by light being reflected therefrom and reflectively visible to the passing observer'thereby providing a composite display with a portion thereof visible and another portion practically invisible at certain angles, the second portion flashing into and out of reflective visibility to an observer passing said dual display, the static portion remaining visible. 7

3. A composite activated display comprising a flat background surface, a printed illustration formed on portions of said background, adhesive applied to portions of said illustration as the base for an independent superimposed illustration, light reflectingbeadsembedded into said adhesive while the same istacky to provide a second illustration to form a composite display wherein portions thereof are activated by said light reflecting beads while the other printed portions of said display are in constant static View of the observer, the activatedportions of said display being brilliantly and reflectively visible and practically invisible when the observer assumes diflerent positions in viewing said display.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Oct. 27, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIOfi Patent NO. 2,827,720 MBICh 25, 1958 Matthew H, Phillippi In the grant, lines 2 to 4, for "assignor of twenty-Jive percent to Charles V, Welty and twenty-five percent to Howard L, Fischer, of Sta Paul, Minnesota," read assignor of twenty-four percent foo Charles Va We'lty and Signed and sealed this 3rd day of June 1958,

(SEAL) Atfiest: KARL H. AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Officer Corrmissioner of Patents 

